kpottie@icarus.cs.kuleuven.ac.be (Pottie Karl) (03/19/91)
Could anybody make an elaborate comparison between the Stylewriter and the Deskwriter ? If printing speed and price were the same, which machine would you prefer and why ? Does the stylewriter use 'normal' photocopy paper ? Some people said the stylewriter makes horizontal 'bands', like a matrixprinter does when printing large black areas. Is this bad ? I'm pretty sure the deskwriter doesn't do this, so I guess deskwriter output must be better ? Another person mentioned that the paper guides on the sheet feeder were fixed. Does this mean we in Europe can't use din A4 paper ? ANY personal experiences would be greatly valued. Karl
russotto@eng.umd.edu (Matthew T. Russotto) (03/20/91)
In article <2482@n-kulcs.cs.kuleuven.ac.be> kpottie@icarus.cs.kuleuven.ac.be (Pottie Karl) writes: >Could anybody make an elaborate comparison between the Stylewriter >and the Deskwriter ? If printing speed and price were the same, >which machine would you prefer and why ? Well, those are unreasonable constraints. The main drawback of the Stylewriter is speed. The DeskWriter is claimed to be twice as fast, but it has lower resolution and is a lot bigger. I'd buy the Stylewriter under those constraints. >Does the stylewriter use 'normal' photocopy paper ? It uses normal paper-- I don't know if photocopy paper is the best sort, but its paper preference shouldn't bee too different from the deskwriter. >Some people said the stylewriter makes horizontal 'bands', like a >matrixprinter does when printing large black areas. Is this bad ? I'm >pretty sure the deskwriter doesn't do this, so I guess deskwriter output >must be better ? I don't see any on the sample I have, but the largest black areas it has is about 18 point Times Bold printing. -- Matthew T. Russotto russotto@eng.umd.edu russotto@wam.umd.edu .sig under construction, like the rest of this campus.
palmer@sessun.UUCP (Jim Palmer) (03/20/91)
In article <2482@n-kulcs.cs.kuleuven.ac.be>, kpottie@icarus.cs.kuleuven.ac.be (Pottie Karl) writes: > Does the stylewriter use 'normal' photocopy paper ? Yes. > Some people said the stylewriter makes horizontal 'bands', like a > matrixprinter does when printing large black areas. Is this bad ? I'm > pretty sure the deskwriter doesn't do this, so I guess deskwriter output > must be better ? There is noticeable banding in moderate to large black areas with the Stylewriter. The Deskwriter produces solid blacks. As to which produces better quality output: The grays on the Deskwriter are much better than the Stylewriter. The Stylewriter grays look like the printer sprinkled large black dots over the area that is supposed to be gray. The Stylewriter ink appears to bleed less into the paper. This is noticeable in thin lines and the crispness of the fonts. The combination of TrueType fonts and the lack of bleed produce laser quality text output. > If printing speed and price were the same, which machine would you prefer. If I were using it to print mainly text, I would go with the Stylewriter. If I printed mostly graphics containing blacks and grays, the Deskwriter. Other comments: You wouldn't believe how slow the 1/2 page per minute (excluding imaging time) pace of the Stylewriter feels. Both printers use non-permanent ink. I am still looking for that perfect printer. -- Jim Palmer Scientific and Engineering Software, Inc. Internet: palmer@ses.com UUCP: ...uunet!sessun!palmer
alan@tkna.uucp (Alan Light) (04/12/91)
>>Could anybody make an elaborate comparison between the Stylewriter >>and the Deskwriter ? If printing speed and price were the same, >>which machine would you prefer and why ? There is absolutly no reason to by the Deskwriter. (Cost > $600). What you should buy in that case is: 1. An HP DeskJet 500 (About $475 with the typical discount). 2. A copy of JetLink Express from GDT Softworks. (About $85 with cable). This will give you 300 DPI, Quiet operation, Nice envelope printing AND the ability to use HP font cartridges. PLUS full compatibiliy with ATM and Adobe outline fonts. PLUS as a bonus you have a printer which will work with either PC's, Mac's and anything else your might imagine (it features both serial and parallel ports). -- _______________________________________________ /-\ |_ /-\ |\| Alan Light uunet!tkna!alan Telekurs (North America), Inc. New York, NY.
wsinkees@wsinti01.info.win.tue.nl (Kees Huizing) (04/17/91)
alan@tkna.uucp (Alan Light) writes: >There is absolutly no reason to by the Deskwriter. (Cost > $600). What you >should buy in that case is: >1. An HP DeskJet 500 (About $475 with the typical discount). >2. A copy of JetLink Express from GDT Softworks. (About $85 with cable). > I seem to recall that the DeskWriter's printing speed is higher, because of en enhanced serial interface. Kees -- Kees Huizing - Eindhoven Univ of Techn - Dept Math & Comp Sc - The Netherlands e-mail: wsinkees@win.tue.nl Phone: +31-40-474120 Fax: +31-40-436685
rsarin@aix01.aix.rpi.edu (Raman K. Sarin) (04/17/91)
In article <1991Apr11.173045.3661@tkna.uucp> alan@mr_peck.UUCP (Alan Light) writes: >There is absolutly no reason to by the Deskwriter. (Cost > $600). What you >should buy in that case is: > >1. An HP DeskJet 500 (About $475 with the typical discount). >2. A copy of JetLink Express from GDT Softworks. (About $85 with cable). > Yes, but you won't get an apple talkable printer which will transfer data at a rate much higher than the serial DESKJET. In my suite here at school we have both the Apple Stylewriter and the Deskwriter, and the deskwrite is definitely faster, althoght that could have a lot to do with the fact that I have a Macc /ci and the Stylewriter is on a Classic, but wait, no it doesn't beacuse there is also a classic appletalked to the Deskwriter, and it prints just as fast. -Raman Sarin
dplatt@ntg.uucp (Dave Platt) (04/18/91)
In article <1991Apr11.173045.3661@tkna.uucp> alan@mr_peck.UUCP (Alan Light) writes: >There is absolutly no reason to by the Deskwriter. (Cost > $600). What you >should buy in that case is: > >1. An HP DeskJet 500 (About $475 with the typical discount). >2. A copy of JetLink Express from GDT Softworks. (About $85 with cable). > > >This will give you 300 DPI, Quiet operation, Nice envelope printing AND the >ability to use HP font cartridges. PLUS full compatibiliy with ATM and Adobe >outline fonts. > >PLUS as a bonus you have a printer which will work with either PC's, Mac's and >anything else your might imagine (it features both serial and parallel ports). Well... I have to disagree, for a number of reasons: - The DeskWriter serial interface operates at 57600 bps (or at AppleTalk speeds if you enable that mode). A DeskJet 500, running over a serial line using JetLink Express, operates at a maximum throughput of 19200 bps. Even using the latest version of JetLink Express, which supports the DeskWriter-style 2D graphics compression mode, there is a real difference in throughput between 19200 bps and 57600 bps. The DeskWriter's throughput will be (in my experience) at least to% better than that of the DeskJet 500's, when printing a page filled with 10-point text. - In order to get DeskWriter-grade speed from a DeskJet 500, you must push the bits in through the parallel port at high speed. This requires purchasing a 57600 bps protocol converter... presumably the Paralink (Johnathon Freeman Technologies, also available through GDT). I paid $70 for mine; GDT charges rather more. You could also buy a Hurdler CPI Centronics parallel interface for a NuBus-equipped machine... this is considerably more expensive. - The DeskJet 500 is not networkable without playing some funny games. The DeskWriter supports AppleTalk. - Both the DeskWriter (using HP's driver) and the DeskJet 500 (using GDT's) are completely compatible with ATM (Type 1 PostScript fonts) and with TrueType (TrueType outline fonts). Both drivers have built-in support for proprietary outline-font interpreters, both are shipped with the same basic set of fonts, and both have extra font packs (LW+ equivalent) at roughly comparable prices. To get DeskWriter-grade speed from a DeskJet 500, you must purchase both JetLink Express _and_ a Paralink. This brings the cost of the DeskJet 500 purchase up to roughly the cost of a DeskWriter. You gain the ability to have multiple connections, but you lose the ability to AppleTalk the printer. I personally own a DeskJet 500 (an original DeskJet, upgraded by HP), a Paralink, and JetLink Express. It's a great combination... all of the companies involved have provided excellent support when I've needed it (this means _you_, Dave Neff!). However... if I were buying today, I'd probably buy a DeskWriter... it's a one-stop-shopping approach that gives good performance for the same price (+/- a few dollars) as the multi-vendor approach. -- Dave Platt VOICE: (415) 813-8917 UUCP: ...apple!ntg!dplatt USNAIL: New Technologies Group Inc. 2468 Embarcardero Way, Palo Alto CA 94303
jane@kudu.ee.lbl.gov (Jane Colman) (04/18/91)
In article <66@goblin.ntg.uucp> dplatt@ntg.UUCP (Dave Platt) writes: >However... if I were buying today, I'd probably buy a DeskWriter... >it's a one-stop-shopping approach that gives good performance for the >same price (+/- a few dollars) as the multi-vendor approach. > I know this has been discussed before on the net, but for those of us still trying to make up our minds--why a DeskWriter rather than a StyleWriter? I am not overly concerned about either the price difference or the speed difference, and I will probably never need AppleTalk, so my major concerns are quality, reliability, and ease of use (in a household consisting of mechanical idiots). Jane Colman Lawrence Berkeley Lab kudu.ee.lbl.gov
kpottie@icarus.cs.kuleuven.ac.be (Pottie Karl) (04/18/91)
If you've got to decide between a deskwriter and a stylewriter , consider this: The Stylewriter 's got a life expectancy of about 6000 pages, the deskwriter about 60000 . If you've got to print more than a couple of pages a day on average, you should go for the deskwriter. I've got serious doubts about the MTBF of the Stylewriter.
costello@stx.UUCP (Michael E. Costello) (04/18/91)
In article <12194@dog.ee.lbl.gov>, jane@kudu.ee.lbl.gov (Jane Colman) writes: > I know this has been discussed before on the net, but for those > of us still trying to make up our minds--why a DeskWriter > rather than a StyleWriter? I am not overly concerned about > either the price difference or the speed difference, and I > will probably never need AppleTalk, so my major concerns are > quality, reliability, and ease of use (in a household consisting > of mechanical idiots). > > Jane Colman Lawrence Berkeley Lab kudu.ee.lbl.gov > As someone who has extensive experience with both, one of the most important features of the SW is its compact size. Whereas the DW commands its own piece of furniture, the SW can be placed *anywhere*, including atop the mac. || Michael Costello, Meeting Director || costello@world.std.com || BCS*Mac || The Boston Computer Society Macintosh User Group || P.O. Box 2591; Woburn, MA 01888 617-631-8188
neff@hp-vcd.HP.COM (Dave Neff) (04/18/91)
>There is absolutly no reason to by the Deskwriter. (Cost > $600). What you >should buy in that case is: > >1. An HP DeskJet 500 (About $475 with the typical discount). >2. A copy of JetLink Express from GDT Softworks. (About $85 with cable). O.K., I'll give a couple of reasons to buy the DeskWriter over the DeskJet setup you described above: 1. AppleTalk support. Maybe you don't care, many people do. 2. Plug and play. No special cables, no dip switches to set. 3. Unless you use a 57K baud to parallel conversion cable, the performace of the DeskJet 500 will not be as good as the DeskWriter for graphics. Once you go to scaleable outline fonts with ATM or True Type, everything is graphics. Of course the advantage of the DeskJet 500 approach is you do have a printer that works with an MS-DOS PC. Of course many Mac users don't care about that :-). As for comparisons with the StyleWriter, the DeskWriter is about twice as fast and has AppleTalk. But then again, the StyleWriter is cheaper. Now if the choice boils down to a StyleWriter vs. a DeskJet 500 with a special cable and third party driver, of course the DeskJet 500 would be the better choice :-). Actually my HP "hat" tells me to say that, but I really don't think this would be a better choice for the average Mac user since it isn't really plug and play. It will be twice as fast as the StyleWriter if you use a 57K baud to parallel conversion cable and a good driver. Dave Neff neff@hpvcfs1.HP.COM
esink@turia.dit.upm.es (Eric Wayne Sink) (04/19/91)
In article <1170029@hp-vcd.HP.COM> neff@hp-vcd.HP.COM (Dave Neff) writes: >3. Unless you use a 57K baud to parallel conversion cable, the performace >of the DeskJet 500 will not be as good as the DeskWriter for graphics. > >Dave Neff >neff@hpvcfs1.HP.COM Big point here. Big, big point. My boss back at Univerisity of Illinois swapped his DeskJet (running on a Mac), for a DeskWriter and said the speed improvement was staggering. Eric Eric W. Sink | "If no one is criticizing |Opinions Departamento de Telematica | your work, it is possible |mine - Universidad Politecnica de Madrid| that you are not doing |all of esink@turia.dit.upm.es | anything." -George Verwer |them.
dplatt@ntg.uucp (Dave Platt) (04/20/91)
In article <12194@dog.ee.lbl.gov> jane@kudu.ee.lbl.gov (Jane Colman) writes: >I know this has been discussed before on the net, but for those >of us still trying to make up our minds--why a DeskWriter >rather than a StyleWriter? I am not overly concerned about >either the price difference or the speed difference, and I >will probably never need AppleTalk, so my major concerns are >quality, reliability, and ease of use (in a household consisting >of mechanical idiots). Well, my impression is that the DeskJet/DeskWriter mechanism is designed for a somewhat longer useful lifetime than the StyleWriter. The DeskFoo isn't designed to be portable (even though it's quite light in weight), and so its physical design includes some features that I think are quite useful in a personal printer. For example: its paper feed bin, platen, ink station, and paper stacker are all somewhat enclosed... dust cannot easily settle onto the paper from above. In our household, that's significant >grin<. The StyleWriter's paper-feed slot exposes the paper supply to dust... if you don't use the printer for a couple of days, the first sheet to be printed might end up with some slight blurring due to dust on the printing surface. Also, the DeskFoo mechanism has existed for several years now, and there's been enough time for HP to get a few bugs out of it (they've changed the pen-priming system a couple of times). I purchased and read through the service-technician's manual for this printer, and I was struck by the elegance of the mechanical design... I think it's a well-designed piece of "iron". Any engineering team who puts in a complete cartridge self-test (the printer can tell you _which_ specific inkjet resistor isn't drawing the right amount of current to fire), _and_ includes a "spittoon" in their design, wins my admiration! ("Gentleprinters are requested to use the cuspidors while printing.") There is another factor involved: cost of the cartridges. It's possible to refill the HP cartridges, although HP does not recommend this. Most people use Skrip or a similar fountain-pen ink, which works well at a low cost ($1 or so per full refill) but is water soluble (as was the original HP ink). It's possible to buy refill kits from JetFill, Diablo, and several other companies, which provide a convenient way to refill the HP cartridges with an ink that's roughly comparable to the new HP ink formulation (which is much more smear-resistant than the old ink). These refill kits seem to cost on the rough order of $10/refill... sometimes less. As far as I know, it's not possible to refill the StyleWriter/BubbleJet cartridges... at least, not without some real mechanical hacking. I haven't heard of anyone who has done it successfully. -- Dave Platt VOICE: (415) 813-8917 UUCP: ...apple!ntg!dplatt USNAIL: New Technologies Group Inc. 2468 Embarcardero Way, Palo Alto CA 94303
sdbeck@mac.cc.macalstr.edu (04/20/91)
In article <-xlg-!c@rpi.edu>, rsarin@aix01.aix.rpi.edu (Raman K. Sarin) writes: > In article <1991Apr11.173045.3661@tkna.uucp> alan@mr_peck.UUCP (Alan Light) writes: >>There is absolutly no reason to by the Deskwriter. (Cost > $600). What you I paid $377 for mine (educational price). Much better deal now, no? >>should buy in that case is: >> >>1. An HP DeskJet 500 (About $475 with the typical discount). >>2. A copy of JetLink Express from GDT Softworks. (About $85 with cable). >> > Yes, but you won't get an apple talkable printer which will transfer data at > a rate much higher than the serial DESKJET. In my suite here at school we have > both the Apple Stylewriter and the Deskwriter, and the deskwrite is definitely faster, althoght that could have a lot to do with the fact that I have > a Macc /ci and the Stylewriter is on a Classic, but wait, no it doesn't beacuse > there is also a classic appletalked to the Deskwriter, and it prints just as fast. > Actually, the StyleWriter's printing speed is INCREDIBLY dependent on CPU speed. Example: a complex page at best quality with TrueType fonts took 4 min on my SE. It took 2 min. on an LC. A print spooler is a necessity, if you ask me. On the whole, it's a great idea; laser-quality at < ImageWriter II $$! I like to start long things printing and go to sleep. Also, it prints onto cardstock fine, even from the sheetfeeder. AND it hardly takes up any space on my desk at all! (very important in a dorm room) Dan Becker macalestr college st paul mn
Adam.Frix@p18.f20.n226.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Adam Frix) (04/22/91)
kpottie@icarus.cs.kuleuven.ac.be (Pottie Karl) writes:
PK> If you've got to decide between a deskwriter and a stylewriter
PK> , consider this:
PK> The Stylewriter 's got a life expectancy of about 6000 pages,
PK> the deskwriter about 60000 .
I find this _extremely_ hard to believe. Can you quote a source for this information, beyond "I heard it from this guy"?
--Adam--
--
Adam Frix via cmhGate - Net 226 fido<=>uucp gateway Col, OH
UUCP: ...!osu-cis!n8emr!cmhgate!20.18!Adam.Frix
INET: Adam.Frix@p18.f20.n226.z1.FIDONET.ORGwsinkees@wsinfo09.info.win.tue.nl (Kees Huizing) (04/22/91)
costello@stx.UUCP (Michael E. Costello) writes: >As someone who has extensive experience with both, one of the most important >features of the SW is its compact size. Whereas the DW commands its >own piece of furniture, the SW can be placed *anywhere*, including atop >the mac. Except on a Mac Plus... -- Kees Huizing - Eindhoven Univ of Techn - Dept Math & Comp Sc - The Netherlands e-mail: wsinkees@win.tue.nl Phone: +31-40-474120 Fax: +31-40-436685
kpottie@icarus.cs.kuleuven.ac.be (Pottie Karl) (04/23/91)
>PK> If you've got to decide between a deskwriter and a stylewriter >PK> , consider this: >PK> The Stylewriter 's got a life expectancy of about 6000 pages, >PK> the deskwriter about 60000 . >I find this _extremely_ hard to believe. >Can you quote a source for this information, beyond "I heard it from this guy"? I obtained this information from the U.K. version of MacUser and the manual of my deskwriter. Macuser quotes the 6000 pages life span several times, and says it is an important fact to consider when you buy a StyleWriter. If you need a longer lifespan, you should buy the laserwriter LS (according to Macuser U.K.) If you see the Stylewriter, how fragile and small it is, I do not find this figure hard to believe.
sdbeck@mac.cc.macalstr.edu (04/23/91)
In article <226252.2812BC57@cmhgate.FIDONET.ORG>, Adam.Frix@p18.f20.n226.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Adam Frix) writes: > > kpottie@icarus.cs.kuleuven.ac.be (Pottie Karl) writes: > > PK> If you've got to decide between a deskwriter and a stylewriter > PK> , consider this: > PK> The Stylewriter 's got a life expectancy of about 6000 pages, > PK> the deskwriter about 60000 . > > I find this _extremely_ hard to believe. Can you quote a source for this information, beyond "I heard it from this guy"? > > --Adam-- Ditto. Dan Becker
tgoose@eng.umd.edu (Jason Garms) (04/23/91)
In article <226252.2812BC57@cmhgate.FIDONET.ORG>, Adam.Frix@p18.f20.n226.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Adam Frix) writes: > > kpottie@icarus.cs.kuleuven.ac.be (Pottie Karl) writes: > > PK> If you've got to decide between a deskwriter and a stylewriter > PK> , consider this: > PK> The Stylewriter 's got a life expectancy of about 6000 pages, > PK> the deskwriter about 60000 . > > I find this _extremely_ hard to believe. Can you quote a source for this information, beyond "I heard it from this guy"? > > --Adam-- > > -- > Adam Frix via cmhGate - Net 226 fido<=>uucp gateway Col, OH > UUCP: ...!osu-cis!n8emr!cmhgate!20.18!Adam.Frix > INET: Adam.Frix@p18.f20.n226.z1.FIDONET.ORG Me Too!!! Jason Garms tgoose@eng.umd.edu
john@killer.uucp (John Schettino x4156) (04/24/91)
In article <1991Apr11.173045.3661@tkna.uucp> alan@mr_peck.UUCP (Alan Light) writes: >>>Could anybody make an elaborate comparison between the Stylewriter >>>and the Deskwriter ? If printing speed and price were the same, >>>which machine would you prefer and why ? > >There is absolutly no reason to by the Deskwriter. (Cost > $600). What you >should buy in that case is: > >1. An HP DeskJet 500 (About $475 with the typical discount). >2. A copy of JetLink Express from GDT Softworks. (About $85 with cable). > > >This will give you 300 DPI, Quiet operation, Nice envelope printing AND the >ability to use HP font cartridges. PLUS full compatibiliy with ATM and Adobe >outline fonts. > >PLUS as a bonus you have a printer which will work with either PC's, Mac's and >anything else your might imagine (it features both serial and parallel ports). > You have spent $560 on the DJ + software. You still don't have APPLETALK. You will have to wait for GDT to update their sw for 7.0 I have a DW, and just upgraded the driver (for free) to 2.1 by downloading it from sumex. I assume HP will provide an update (if needed) for 7.0 when that comes out, for free. This seems to make the value of the DW (which is "close" to $600 WITH APPLETALK) better than the DJ + software (+cable$$, +appletalk$$$) On comparisons with the stylewriter, the DW is faster and more rugged (ie, has a longer life in terms of total pages printed, seems less likely to produce wavy or non-uniform solids) and has appletalk, so its acceptable for small "workgroup" networks. You need only buy 1 DW for use with 2 macs at home [1/2 :^), after all a "network" of a cheap classic + a IIci provides 2 macs at a reasonable cost, and allows for basic + advanced mac work by a computing couple] Of course, I love my DW and am not particulary impartial, but I think that the print quality and speed are amazing at this price. john schettino john@ctc.contel.com
jsp@key.COM (James Preston) (04/25/91)
In article <74@goblin.ntg.uucp> dplatt@ntg.UUCP (Dave Platt) writes: }Well, my impression is that the DeskJet/DeskWriter mechanism is designed }for a somewhat longer useful lifetime than the StyleWriter. The DeskFoo }isn't designed to be portable (even though it's quite light in weight), }and so its physical design includes some features that I think are quite }useful in a personal printer. } }For example: its paper feed bin, platen, ink station, and paper stacker }are all somewhat enclosed... dust cannot easily settle onto the paper }from above. In our household, that's significant >grin<. It wouldn't even matter if dust did settle on the paper from above since it is the underside of the paper (as seen when it's in the paper tray) that is printed on. --James Preston
wsinkees@wsinti01.info.win.tue.nl (Kees Huizing) (04/25/91)
jsp@key.COM (James Preston) writes: >> [doubt about lifespan of the Styelwriter due to dust settling on the >> paper in the papertray] >It wouldn't even matter if dust did settle on the paper from above since >it is the underside of the paper (as seen when it's in the paper tray) >that is printed on. This is not true. The visible side of the paper in the paper tray is the side that will be printed on. The front feeding slot, however, takes the paper upside down, the paper makes a U-turn in the printer and always comes out with the printed side above. (So you can start proofreading while the file is being printed -- handy with the Stylewriter's speed! :-) On the other hand, the paper tray is in an almost vertical position, let's say, 60 degrees or more, which reduces the dust settling by at least a factor 2. Furthermore, the topmost paper is the one that is being printed first, so I don't think that this way of gathering dust is very important in an average non-sleeping, non-corridor house room. (unless the printer is really gathering dust, of course :-) -- Kees Huizing - Eindhoven Univ of Techn - Dept Math & Comp Sc - The Netherlands e-mail: wsinkees@win.tue.nl Phone: +31-40-474120 Fax: +31-40-436685
philip@pescadero.stanford.edu (Philip Machanick) (04/26/91)
In article <1915@svin02.info.win.tue.nl> wsinkees@wsinti01.info.win.tue.nl (Kees Huizing) writes: >jsp@key.COM (James Preston) writes: >>> [doubt about lifespan of the Styelwriter due to dust settling on the >>> paper in the papertray] > >>It wouldn't even matter if dust did settle on the paper from above since All these arguments about the difference between the StyleWriter and DeskWriter have convinced me that the DeskWriter has some significant advantages. However, I can get the StyleWriter for $350 through the Stanford Bookstore. Is it possible to get an educational discount on the DeskWriter to bring it closer to the StyleWriter price? Philip Machanick
tocherd@ul.ie (04/26/91)
In article <3011@n-kulcs.cs.kuleuven.ac.be>, kpottie@icarus.cs.kuleuven.ac.be (Pottie Karl) writes: >>PK> The Stylewriter 's got a life expectancy of about 6000 pages, >>PK> the deskwriter about 60000 . Oops read the manual more carefully! Its the ink cartridge life your taking about not the mechanical gizzmo. David Tocher Dept of Maths University of Limerick Ireland
sdbeck@mac.cc.macalstr.edu (04/29/91)
In article <17150.28180247@ul.ie>, tocherd@ul.ie writes: > In article <3011@n-kulcs.cs.kuleuven.ac.be>, kpottie@icarus.cs.kuleuven.ac.be (Pottie Karl) writes: >>>PK> The Stylewriter 's got a life expectancy of about 6000 pages, >>>PK> the deskwriter about 60000 . > > Oops read the manual more carefully! Its the ink cartridge life your taking > about not the mechanical gizzmo. Which ink cartidge are you talking about? The StyleWriter is good for 500 pages before it needs more ink. Dan Becker
rgonzal@elbereth.rutgers.edu (Saul) (04/29/91)
I think you can get an educational discount for the DeskWriter from: Dataprint 2425 CrownPoint Executive Dr. Charlotte, NC 28227 (704) 847-7800 (800) 222-9707 FAX (704) 847-7793 Also, certain schools (such as Univ. of Delaware?) sell the DeskWriter to their faculty and students at an educational price. -Ralph (rgonzal@elbereth.rutgers.edu)
rsarin@aix01.aix.rpi.edu (Raman K. Sarin) (04/30/91)
In article <17150.28180247@ul.ie> tocherd@ul.ie writes: >In article <3011@n-kulcs.cs.kuleuven.ac.be>, kpottie@icarus.cs.kuleuven.ac.be (Pottie Karl) writes: >>>PK> The Stylewriter 's got a life expectancy of about 6000 pages, >>>PK> the deskwriter about 60000 . > >Oops read the manual more carefully! Its the ink cartridge life your taking >about not the mechanical gizzmo. > >David Tocher >Dept of Maths >University of Limerick >Ireland Yeah, Right! I don't think so, I have owned a deskwriter since last October, and I've been through maybe 8 ink cartridges, and only about 5 reams of paper. Al Although we do reuse the paper, and print in draft mode whenever we can, I'm sure this doesn't add up to 60000 sheets per cartridge, if only it did. By the way don't ever by the DeskFill cartridges, or JetFill I think, they absoulutely suck. I had two, one had the ink backed up and dried out in the needle, and both leaked out the sides when squeazed, the first ruining a rather nice shirt and a pair of jeans. They're too expensive to be this badly designed. My suggestion get a hold of siringe (sp?) and a clipped needle and do it yourself, it's cheaper. -Raman Sarin .
jsp@key.COM (James Preston) (04/30/91)
In article <1915@svin02.info.win.tue.nl> wsinkees@info.win.tue.nl writes: >jsp@key.COM (James Preston) writes: >>> [doubt about lifespan of the Styelwriter due to dust settling on the >>> paper in the papertray] > >>It wouldn't even matter if dust did settle on the paper from above since >>it is the underside of the paper (as seen when it's in the paper tray) >>that is printed on. > >This is not true. The visible side of the paper in the paper tray is the >side that will be printed on. . . I think this discussion got a little confused. The posting I responded to said that one of the advantages of the *DeskWriter* was that the paper was partially covered while in the paper tray, thus helping to keep dust from settling on it. I was pointing out that it wouldn't matter if dust did settle on the paper, since the *DeskWriter* prints on the underside of the paper. That is, if one considers lack of dust on the printed side of the paper to be an advantage, then the *DeskWriter* is perfect since dust cannot settle at all on the printed side. --James Preston
philip@pescadero.stanford.edu (Philip Machanick) (04/30/91)
In article <Apr.29.08.45.45.1991.5374@elbereth.rutgers.edu> rgonzal@elbereth.rutgers.edu (Saul) writes: >I think you can get an educational discount for the DeskWriter from: > >Dataprint >2425 CrownPoint Executive Dr. >Charlotte, NC 28227 >(704) 847-7800 >(800) 222-9707 >FAX (704) 847-7793 > I just confirmed this, but they claim HP puts a very tight restriction on the deal: you have to be a full-time faculty member in a US university to get the price from them (literally: they would not even tell me the price). Since I am a research visitor, I don't get the deal (sigh). I think I'll get a Stylewriter and spooler. Philip Machanick
planting@cs.pitt.edu (Harry Plantinga) (05/01/91)
>There is absolutly no reason to by the Deskwriter. (Cost > $600). What you >should buy in that case is: > >1. An HP DeskJet 500 (About $475 with the typical discount). >2. A copy of JetLink Express from GDT Softworks. (About $85 with cable). There is now no reason to by a DeskJet. I have heard that HP is lowering the price of the DeskWriter to be equal to the price of the DeskJet. ---------- Harry Plantinga planting@cs.pitt.edu
sdbeck@mac.cc.macalstr.edu (05/07/91)
In article <10511@pitt.UUCP>, planting@cs.pitt.edu (Harry Plantinga) writes: > References:<2482@n-kulcs.cs.kuleuven.ac.be> <1991Mar20.010444.15445@eng.umd.edu> <1991Apr11.173045.3661@tkna.uucp> <1991Apr24.144935.28397@europa.asd.contel.com> > >>There is absolutly no reason to by the Deskwriter. (Cost > $600). What you >>should buy in that case is: >> >>1. An HP DeskJet 500 (About $475 with the typical discount). >>2. A copy of JetLink Express from GDT Softworks. (About $85 with cable). > > There is now no reason to by a DeskJet. > > I have heard that HP is lowering the price of the DeskWriter to be equal > to the price of the DeskJet. > I'd like to throw in something to the price/performance debate. For educational users, the price of the StyleWriter is <$400 US. (I paid $377 at Macalester College St. Paul) Now, for a quantum leap in performance, you could spend another couple of hundred dollars and get an HP inkjet. And for _another_ quantum leap in performance, you could get Apple's Personal LaserWriter (sorry if I got the name wrong) which is being sold educationally for well under $900. (To non-educational netters: Sorry! You could try taking a class at your local community college, though....) Basically, you get what you pay for, and there are some who simply _can't_ pay for anything beyond a certain level. And there are others who don't _need_ the performance (though they could use it). There's an argument that you should get the best you can afford, and in a vacum that makes sense. But really, I've got to pay for food, too! Dan Becker
alan@tkna.uucp (Alan Light) (05/08/91)
In article <66@goblin.ntg.uucp> dplatt@ntg.UUCP (Dave Platt) writes: > >I personally own a DeskJet 500 (an original DeskJet, upgraded by HP), a >Paralink, and JetLink Express. It's a great combination... all of the >companies involved have provided excellent support when I've needed it >(this means _you_, Dave Neff!). > >However... if I were buying today, I'd probably buy a DeskWriter... >it's a one-stop-shopping approach that gives good performance for the >same price (+/- a few dollars) as the multi-vendor approach. > Yes, but..... What if you want to use your printer with a PC? There is probably some way to hook up a DeskWriter to a PC, but why bother? With a DeskJet, you can just plug it in. -- _______________________________________________ /-\ |_ /-\ |\| Alan Light uunet!tkna!alan Telekurs (North America), Inc. New York, NY.
costello@stx.UUCP (Michael E. Costello) (05/08/91)
In article <1991May6.200528.430@mac.cc.macalstr.edu>, sdbeck@mac.cc.macalstr.edu writes: > Now, for a quantum leap in performance, you could spend another couple of > hundred dollars and get an HP inkjet. > Today's Boston Globe carried an ad for the Deskwriter priced at $465. Not only that, but the particular vendor also sold the DeskJet for $465. I've got to believe that New York prices will be at least as good. Ain't competition great? Michael Costello, Meeting Director * costello@world.std.com * 617-625-7080 BCS*Mac * The Boston Computer Society Macintosh User Group
rsarin@aix01.aix.rpi.edu (Raman K. Sarin) (05/08/91)
In article <1991May6.200528.430@mac.cc.macalstr.edu> sdbeck@mac.cc.macalstr.edu writes: > >And for _another_ quantum leap in performance, you could get Apple's Personal >LaserWriter (sorry if I got the name wrong) which is being sold educationally >for well under $900. (To non-educational netters: Sorry! You could try taking a >class at your local community college, though....) > This Quantum leap in performance is only in graphics output, and has nothing at all to do with speed of the printer. See the latest MacUser (or last months) or MacWorld (sorry I can never remember which article was in which) for a chart which shows you that the Hp DeskWriter is as fast as or faster than a LaserWriter LS. -Raman
weiss@mott.seas.ucla.edu (Michael Weiss) (05/08/91)
In article <1991May6.200528.430@mac.cc.macalstr.edu> sdbeck@mac.cc.macalstr.edu writes: >I'd like to throw in something to the price/performance debate. >For educational users, the price of the >StyleWriter is <$400 US. (I paid $377 at Macalester College St. Paul) > >Now, for a quantum leap in performance, you could spend another couple of >hundred dollars and get an HP inkjet. I don't know about elsewhere, but at UCLA the price difference between the DeskWriter and the StyleWriter is under $50. To me, that's worth every penny! -- \ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | / - Michael Weiss weiss@watson.seas.ucla.edu | School of Engineering and - - izzydp5@oac.ucla.edu | Applied Science, UCLA - / | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | \